Mixed martial arts league Ultimate Fighting Championship has created a way for fans to get in on the action through digital trading cards that are designed for a modern age via a mobile application. 

UFC fans will now be able to collect their favorite mixed martial athletes through the classic trading cards experience but in a more up-to-date manner. The app is leaning on the diehard fandom surrounding the sport while providing an opportunity to not only drive sales through in-app purchases, but to provide a hub for UFC information and a community to connect with other fans. 

?The new Topps UFC Knockout app hits on some of the key underlying components of successful apps - passion, loyalty and the ability to engage with like minded fans socially,? said Josh Todd, chief marketing officer at Localytics. 

UFC partnered with app developer Topps to launch the Knockout app for iOS and Android. 

Players will be able to compete with other users within the app by stepping into the digital Octagon, based on the ring of actual UFC fights. Users select various fighters to play against their opponent, and based on real-life stats, the app will determine who wins. 

During gameplay, users create their lineup of cards and can swap out athletes mid-match. The better each player does, the higher they will rank, and can earn awards and exclusive content. 

Fans can discuss all things UFC-related within a chat component of the app. Users can also swap out the digital cards with other fans and the app will share push notifications when new ones are available. 

The app is based on real-life trading cards that were popular pre-smartphones and Topps has a history in manufacturing the cards but has since moved into the digital space due to its vast potential.   

The digital space may have an even bigger opportunity for the UFC than physical trading cards can garner, as it offers a community surrounding the sport and more capabilities. 

Topps is also responsible for AMC?s The Walking Dead and its prequel series Fear the Walking Dead?s app that provides super fans with a digital marketplace to collect trading cards based on the series, building on their significant followings (see more).

By customizing the creative for app installs ads on Twitter and Facebook to specific customer segments, Topps drove its other mobile app, Bunt for baseball card collecting to the top of the standings in the baseball app pantheon (see more).

?UFC has the integrated platform to promote the app at events and can focus on engaging their users while creating a social relationship with like-minded fans thorough the trading functionality,? Mr. Todd said. ?Even better is the various ways they can use the data to round out the picture of who their most loyal fans are so that they can deliver tailored digital and real world experiences that deepen their relationship with their fans."